South Carolina Basketball coach Dawn Staley had a big night in Philly

Most who follow South Carolina basketball know that head coach Dawn Staley is a big-time Philly sports fan. The Philadelphia native has even worn Philadelphia Eagles jerseys on the sideline to support her favorite team during NFL Playoff season.

On Monday, one of college basketball’s top coaches had the opportunity to try her hand at a different game. Just two days after teaming up with former South Carolina basketball star Zia Cooke to win the Johnsonville Charity Cornhole Challenge, Coach Staley was invited to throw out the first pitch before the Philadelphia Phillies NLCS game against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Staley joined former Villanova basketball head coach Jay Wright for the first pitch, and, much to the delight of the Phillie Phanatic, both two-time national championship winners had respectful ceremonial tosses.

After hyping up the Phillies Phaithful, Staley spent some time with Philadelphia Eagles legend Jason Kelce and his younger brother Travis who has made a lot of headlines for his relationship with Taylor Swift, someone with almost as much Philadelphia star power as Dawn Staley.

Coach Staley must have been a good luck charm for her Fightin’ Phils because they came out on fire. Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper both hit long home runs in the 1st inning, and those two runs made the difference in the 5-3 win for the home team. In the best-of-seven series, Philadelphia has a 1-0 lead, and no one was happier than Dawn Staley.

Unfortunately for the Phillies, Staley won’t be able to be at every game of the series as she has to get her squad ready for their exhibition game against Rutgers on October 22nd.

The Gamecocks and Scarlet Knights will be playing in honor of Nikki McCray-Penson who passed away this year after a battle with breast cancer. Donations for In the Middle, a charity that supports women with breast cancer and their families, will be taken up at the event.